Pump



T. W. SMITH June 16, 1936.

PUMP

Filed Aug. 31, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l T. W. SMITH June 16, 1936.

PUMP

Filed Aug. 51, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 16, 1936 H'TED STATES PUMP Thomas W. Smith, Yanceyville, N. 0.,assignor of one-halfto Fred Bryan 'Harton, Ruffin, N. 0.

Application August 31, 1935, Serial No. 38,817

10 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in reciprocating pumps and has to do, more particularly, with hydraulic pumps of relatively small size for supplying individual domestic and farm requirements in localities where municipal water service is unavailable.

In a sense, my invention is intended and designed for use in lieu of hydraulic ram arrangements heretofore employed in locations where there is an abundant supply of water at relatively low head and the need for a relatively small quantity of water at an increased head, for example a pressure of 20 to 100 pounds per square inch. My invention is especially suited for installation in situations where the supply of fresh water is limited, for example where the source thereof is a well or spring, but where there is a relatively abundant supply of impure or unsafe water at low head, which latter constitutes a potential source of power which might be utilized solely for pump-driving purposes. In the case of hydraulic ram arrangements of conventional form, such a potential source of power is generally not susceptible of utilization without danger of contaminating the fresh water supply. Pumping equipment embodying the present invention is distinguished from such ram arrangements by absolute freedom from fresh water contamination by the impure water employed for pump energization.

In accordance with the foregoing, my invention is characterized by several well-defined objects. It is a primary object of my invention to provide a simple pump construction of high efliciency which is capable of utilizing the potential energy present in an impure water supply of relatively low head (for example that from a small stream or brook) to pump substantially all of a relatively meager supply of fresh water from another source (such as a spring) and maintain the fresh water withdrawn under a substantially constant pressure which may be adjusted at will to satisfy given requirements.

It is another object of my invention to provide such a water pump which is leak-proof and in which the fresh water supplied is assured against contamination by the impure water employed for driving the pump.

It is an object of my invention to provide such a water pump which is quickly and easily adjustable to provide a water supply of any desired pressure.

It is an object of my invention to provide such a water pump which is relatively clean, quiet and free from vibration, permitting its installation within a building used for living quarters.

It isan object of my invention to provide such a water pump which is sturdy and free from likelihood ofpremature wear or frequent breakdown.

It is an object of my invention to provide such a water pump which has no high-speed parts and wearing surfaces requiring frequent lubrication.

It is an object of my invention to provide such a water-pump which is inexpensive to manufacture and may be sold at low cost and which, when worn after long use, may be easily repaired and renewed at .a minimum of expense.

Further objects, and objects relating to details and economies of construction and operation will readily appear to those skilled in the art after familiarization with the detailed description to follow. In one instance, I accomplish the objects of my invention by the means set forth in the following specification. My invention is clearly defined in the appended claims.

A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the pump, the operating beam thereof being shown half-way up on its return travel;

Figure 2 is a view of the same device in top elevation, the air dome and portions of the outlet pipe being removed;

Figure 3 is a view, in top elevation, of the operating bucket;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional View through the flume pipe, disclosing the valve thereof in closed position;

Figure 5 is a similar view, disclosing the flume pipe valve in open position; and.

Figure 6 is a view, in perspective, of the lower end of the fiume-valve-operating shaft.

The same reference numerals refer to the same .parts throughout the several views.

In a broad sense, my invention finds embodiment .in a structure consisting of a reciprocating pump of relatively short stroke actuated by a periodically loaded and unloaded pump lever or beam the free end of which carries a bucket which is filled with water from a fiume pipe. The bucket is provided with a dump valve automatically actuated to substantially instantaneously empty the bucket at its lower limit of movement, and there is preferably provided a valve for simultaneously cutting off the bucket supply pipe until the emptied bucket has been returned to substantially fully-elevated position by its counterbalancing means. The lowering of the bucket when filled is also accelerated by the continued fall of water from its supply pipe, which water supply is not shut oif, as stated, until the end of the downward cycle. The lever, as well as the bucket-returning counterbalancing means are nicely adjustable so that the pressure of the water supplied by the pump proper may be determined at will and also so that the device will function smoothly and efficiently.

More particularly, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, my preferred construction consists of a base lfi having upstanding side walls H and I2 and an upstanding rear wall I3. Mounted upon said base I0 is a reciprocating pump of the diaphragm type consisting of a housing l4 of gooseneck form provided with threaded inlet and outlet ports. Into the inlet port of the housing [4 is threaded a valve cage consisting of an internally threaded nipple l5 which has, disposed therein, a valve seat member I6 upon which rests a ball valve H of hard, corrosion-resistant material such as Monel metal or stainless steel. The inlet port of the housing I4 is further provided with a transverse web [8 which serves to limit upward displacement of the ball valve I! from the nipple I5. The inlet supply line l3 (shown in part only) extends through an opening in the base Ii] and is connected to the nipple l5. Into the outlet port of the housing 14 is threaded a combined nipple and ball valve housing 23 within which is received a similar outlet check ball 2| of corrosionresistant material. A threaded member 22 serves to prevent escape of the ball 2| from the valve housing 24 and the outlet line 23 (shown in part) for pumped water is coupled thereto and pro vided with a conventional air dome 24 for eliminating water hammer and shock. The housing 14 is provided with an open chamber across which is disposed a flexible, centrally perforated diaphragm 25 of rubber or suitably impregnated fabric the peripheral edge of which is secured in a dove-tail-shaped annular socket in the housing by a clamping ring 26 secured upon the housing proper by a plurality of cap screws 21.

Means are provided for appropriately upwardly and downwardly flexing the diaphragm 25 of the pump, which means constitute a primary structural feature of my invention. The reciprocating means consists of a beam or lever 36 having two spaced component arms 36a and 30b pinned to a shaft 3| rotatably journaled upon needle-pointed bearing pins 32 threadedly extending through the side walls II and I2 of the pump base l0 and locked in adjustment by nuts 33, link members 34 swung from the beam 30 at their upper ends on a pin 35and coupled, at their lower ends to a short lever 36 by means of a connecting pin 31. The lever 36 is mounted at one end upon a pin 38 carried by a bifurcated, upwardly extending boss 39 integrally with the diaphragm clamping ring 26. Intermediate the pins 37 and 38 is a depending bifurcated link 48 pivotally connected to the lever 36 by a pin 4| and provided with a threaded stem 46a extending through the central perforation of the diaphragm 25 and secured therein by an underlying washer 4'2 and clamping nut 43. The beam members 30a and 36b extend well beyond the pump proper and the base It? (in practice for several feetwhere conventional house pressures are desired) and, mounted upon the ends thereof by spacer blocks 45 and bolts 46 is a bucket 44 provided with a plurality of sector-shaped openings 44a in its bottom wall 44b. Underlying the sectorally perforate bottom wall 44a is a rotary disc valve member 41 provided with complementary sector-shaped openings 41a alineable with those 44a of the bucket proper. The bottom wall 441) is provided with a central bore through which extends a bolt 48 which is keyed to the disc valve 41 for conjoint rotation therewith. A spring 49 and assembly nut 50 maintain the valve member 41.snugly disposed upon the undersurface of the bucket bottom 44?). The bucket 44 is adapted for disposition beneath the outlet end of a flume pipe 5i which supplies pump-operating water thereto. The fiume pipe 51 is provided with a vertical bore 52 through which extends an articulated shaft 53 having knuckle-joints 54, 55 arranged at right angles to permit universal movement therein. The shaft 53 is of non-circular form and rotatively carries a sliding valve member 56 for controlling discharge from the pipe 5|. The valve 56 is supported by a ring member 5'! secured to the pipe 5| by machine screws 58 and is swingable about the shaft 53, to which it is splined, as a pivot axis. The lower end of the shaft 53 is received in a slot in the head of the bolt 48 for rotation therewith and with the valve member 41 in such relation that the flume valve 56 is closed when the bucket dump valve 41 is open, and inversely. Means are provided for substantially instantaneously actuating these valves at the approximate limits of vertical movement of the bucket 44 and beam 30. These means consist of a bell crank 59 journaled upon a pin 60 carried by a bracket 6| mounted upon the base Ill, a link 62 pivotally connected to the upper arm of the bell crank 59 with an eccentrically disposed pin 63 on the dump valve 47, and snap-action linkage between the beam arm 30a consisting of an arm 64 pivoted upon the pin 60, a link 65 connecting the arms 36a and 64 and a tensioned spring 66 connecting the arm 60 with the lower arm of the bell crank in such fashion that the lower bell crank arm is snapped up or down past its unstable horizontal position as the arm 64 is elevated or depressed by the beam arm 39a in its final movements approaching its upper and lower limits, respectively. Proper adjustment of the valve actuating means is afforded by the connection of the link 65 to the arms 30a and 64 through any of several of the pin holes disposed therealong.

For the purpose of re-elevating the beam 30 and the bucket 44 when discharged, there is provided a counterweight 61 slidably adjustable upon a lever 68 fulcrumed upon an upstanding bracket 69 supported by the side wall I I of the pump base. The lever 58 is connected to the beam 36 by an arm '10 on the shaft 3| fastened to the beam 30 by a bolt H, and links 12 pin-assembled with the arm Ill and the lever 68.

The operation of the device is as follows. Water for the driving of the pump is supplied to the bucket 44, in elevated position, through the flume pipe 5|, the valve 56 of the flume pipe being in open position and the dump Valve 4'! of the bucket being in closed position. When the bucket has been substantially filled with water discharging from the pipe 5|, it descends, depressing the lever 36 against the resistance of the fluid in the pump chamber beneath the flexible diaphragm 25 and displacing the water in the chamber through the goose neck and upwardly past the valve 2| into the outlet line 23. Dead air within ell) the dome 24-is subjected to compression during this cycle and serves to smooth out the impulse. As thebucket 44 descends to its lower limit of movement, the arm 64 (attached by the link 65 to the beam 36) is similarly depressed, and the spring 66, pin-attached to the arm 64 and the horizontal arm of the bell crank 59, exerts a strain upon the horizontal, rearwardly-extending bell crank arm, causing the latter to be swung downwardly, thus retracting the vertical arm of the bell crank and the link 62, and effecting partial rotation of the dump valve plate 41 and the alinement of its openings 41a with the openings Ma, in the bottom of the bucket. Simultaneously, through the rotation of the bolt 48 in the plate 4?, the articulated shaft 53 is rotated and effects closure of the fiume valve 56 splined thereon. In this manner, the water contained within the bucket 44 is dumped at the lower limit of the stroke and the fiume pipe is closed against further discharge to the bucket.

The counterweight 61 thereupon becomes sumciently effective, through the lever 68, the links l2 and the arm 79, to re-elevate the beam 36- and the empty bucket. As the beam 36 is re-elevated and approaches its uppermost limit, the spring 66 is carried upwardly by the arm 64 and effects a snapping forward of the connecting link 52 effective to return the plate 41 to a position in which its openings 51a are out of alinement with, and eiiect closure of the openings 44a in the bottom of the bucket 5d. Simultaneously, the shaft 53 is rotated in unison with the plate 47 and effects an opening of the fiume valve 56 associated therewith. Water again flows from the fiume pipe 5! into the bucket 44, filling the same and effecting a recurrence of the cycle. It will be noted that the bucket is preferably of a size such that the weight of the water containable therein is less than that necessary to overbalance the counterweight El and the resistance of the water in the pump proper, with the result that water from the flume pipe 55 continues to flow with force into the bucket 64 during the downward movement of the latter, and effects an acceleration of the bucket beam 30 in its downward movement similar to that inherent in reciprocating steam engines and due to the continued expansicn cf the steam in the engine cylinder. This acceleration of the beam 30 in its downward movement provides pump action which is highly efiicient, particularly because of the fact that, in the initial portion of the stroke, a slight amount of the water displaced is accommodated by, and stored in, the dome 24. The action of the valves I! and 21, respectively controlling the inlet and outlet ports of the pump proper, is conventional and, by reason of the snappy or accelerated action imparted to the beam 30 and the diaphragm 25, rapid seating and unseating of the valves is obtained, to the realization of high efficiency. Notwithstanding the fact that water continues to flow from the pipe 5| and fall into the bucket 44 until the latter has substantially reached its lowermost limit of travel, the flow is instantly cut off as soon as dumping of the bucket takes place. Thus, there is not only no opposition to efficient action, but no water is turned to unproductive effort.

It will be noted that the lever 30 does not act directly upon the diaphragm-attached stud 40, but that it is indirectly connected thereto through a supplemental lever 36 and connecting links 34, the pins 35 and 31 of which are disposable in any of several superposed pairs of holes in the levers 30 and 36. The levers 30 and 36, though parallel in a vertical plane, extend in opposite directions, and the location of the pin-receiving openings thereof is such that the natural mechanical advantage of the long lever 30 (which 5 in practice may be four or five feet in length) may be increased or decreased by selection of the appropriate holes. The displacement per' stroke and, inversely, the pressure capable of attainment in the system supplied, are thus possible of predetermination. Similarly, the counterweight 67, by reason of its adjustable disposition on the lever 68 at any desired distance from thefulcrum point-thereof, renders possible a nice adjustment of the device such that rapid but smooth operation of the beam 30 is attainable. Likewise the connecting link 65 for operating the bucket and fiume valve actuator may be installed in any of several positions on the arms 30 and 64 to attain perfect snap-action in this part of the device.

While the illustrated pump, by reason of its compact design, as well as its several features of efiiciency, is regarded as a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is appreciated that numerous changes in the form and arrangement of its parts will appear tothose skilled in the art whenacquainted with the present disclosure. For this reason, the device illustrated and described must be regarded as merely an exemplary embodiment of the broad concepts of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. Awater-motor pump comprising: a pump chamber having valve-controlled inlet and outlet ports, means associated with said chamber for displacing fluid therefrom, an oscillating beam operatively connected to said last means, a bucket carried upon the free end of said beam and effective, when charged with water, to depress said beam and effect displacement of fluid from the pump chamber, valve means in said bucket for dumping its contents, and valve-actuating means including a snap-spring element trip-controlled by said beam for instantaneously throwing open said dump-valve means at the lower limit of movement of said beam.

2. A water-motor pump comprising: a pump chamber having valve-controlled inlet and outlet ports, means associated. with said chamber for displacing fluid therefrom, an oscillating beam operatively connected to said last means, a bucket carried upon the free end of said beam and effective, when charged with water, to depress said beam and effect displacement of fluid from the pump chamber, valve means in said bucket for dumping its contents, and snap-action means including a bell crank and a spring coupled to and shiftable with said beam at its lower and upper limits of movement for instantaneously throwing said dump-vavle means open and closed, respectively.

'3. A water-motor pump comprising: a pump chamber having valve-controlled inlet and outlet ports, means associated with said chamber for displacing fluid therefrom, an oscillating beam operatively connected to said last means, a bucket carried upon the free end of said beam and effective, when charged with water, to depress said beam and effect displacement of fluid from said 7 chamber, a supply line for directing water into said bucket, valve means controlling flow from said supply line, means for emptying said bucket of its contents at the lower limit of beam stroke, and snap-action means including a beam-tripped supply-line valve at the upper limit of beam movement and instantaneously closing said valve at the lower limit of beam movement.

4. A water-motor pump comprising: a pump chamber having valve-controlled inlet and outlet ports, means associated with said chamber for displacing fluid therefrom, an oscillating beam operatively connected to said last means, a bucket carried upon the free end of said beam and effective, when charged with water, to depress said beam and effect displacement of fluid from said chamber, valve means in said bucket for dumping its contents, a supply line for directing water into said bucket, valve means controlling flow from said supply line, and snap-action means including a beam-tripped spring element for instantaneously opening said supply-line valve and simultaneously closing said bucket-dumping valve at the upper limit of beam movement, and instantaneously opening said bucket-dumping valve and simultaneously closing said supply-line valve at the lower limit of beam travel, respectively.

5. A water-motor pump comprising: a pump chamber having valve-controlled inlet and outlet ports, means associated with said chamber for displacing fluid therefrom, an oscillating beam operatively connected to said last means, a bucket carried upon the free end of said beam and effective, when charged with water, to depress said beam and effect displacement of fluid from said chamber, valve means in said bucket for dumping its contents, a supply line for directin water into said bucket, valve means controlling flow from said supply line, and snap-action means including a beam-tripped spring element for instantaneously opening said supply-line valve and simultaneously closing said bucket-dumping valve at the upper limit of beam movement, and instantaneously opening said bucket-dumping valve and simultaneously closing said supply-line valve at the lower limit of beam travel, respectively, said snap-action means including a bell crank coupled to said beam by a tensioned spring effective to throw said bell crank in either of two opposite directions in accordance with final movements of said oscillating beam.

6. A water-motor pump comprising: a pump chamber having valve-controlled inlet and outlet ports, means associated with said chamber for displacing fluid therefrom, an oscillating beam operatively connected to said last means, a bucket carried by said beam and effective, when charged with water, to depress said beam and effect displacement of fluid from said chamber, a rotary valve concentric with the bottom of said bucket and effective, when rotated to one position, to dump the bucket contents, a supply line for directing water into said bucket, a pivotal valve for controlling flow from said supply line and having its pivot axis substantially coaxial with the axis of said dump valve, means operatively connecting said valves for conjoint but opposite positioning, and snap-action means for instantaneously shifting said dump valve to open and said supply valve to closed position when the beam reaches its lower limit, and instantaneously shifting said dump valve to closed and said supply valve to open position when the beam reaches its upper limit of movement.

7.'A water-motor pump comprising: a pump chamber having valve-controlled inlet and outlet ports, means associated with said chamber for displacing fluid therefrom, an oscillating beam, a bucket carried upon the free end of said spring element for instantaneously opening said beam and effective, when charged with water, to depress said beam, a relatively short lever connected to said fluiddisplacing means, lying parallel to said beam and extending in the opposite direction, a link coupling said beam and lever intermediate the beam fulcrum and the point of connection of said lever to said fluiddisplacing means, valve means in said bucket for dumping its contents, means for re-elevating said beam when said bucket is empty, and means driven by said beam during its final motion toward its lower and upper limits of travel for respectively opening and closing said bucket dump valve.

8. A water-motor pump comprising: a pump chamber having valve-controlled inlet and outlet ports, means associated with said chamber for displacing fluid therefrom, an oscillating beam, a bucket carried upon the free end of said beam and efiective, when charged with Water, to depress said beam, a relatively short lever connected to said fluid-displacing means, lying parallel to said beam and extending in the opposite direction, a link for adjustably coupling said beam and lever at any of several positions intermediate the beam fulcrum and the point of connection of said lever to said fluid-displacing means, valve means in said bucket for dumping its contents, means for re-elevating said beam when said bucket is empty, and means driven by said beam during its final motion toward its lower and upper limits of travel for respectively opening and closing said bucket dump valve.

9. A water-motor pump comprising: a pump chamber having valve-controlled inlet and outlet ports, means associated with said chamber for displacing fluid therefrom, an oscillating beam, a bucket carried upon the free end of said beam and eifective, when charged with water, to depress said beam, a relatively short lever connected to said fluid-displacing means, lying parallel to said beam and extending in the opposite direction, a link for adjustably coupling said beam and lever at any of several positions intermediate the beam fulcrum and the point of connection of said lever to said fluid-displacing means, a. supply line for directing water into said bucket, valve means controlling flow from said supply line, valve means in said bucket for dumping its contents, means for re-elevating said beam when said bucket is empty, and means driven by said beam during its final motion toward its upper and lower limits of travel for respectively closing said dump valve and opening said supply line valve; and opening said dump valve and closing said supply line valve.

10. A water-motor pump comprising: a pump chamber having valve-controlled inlet and outlet ports, means associated with said chamber for displacing fluid therefrom, an oscillating beam operatively connected to said last means, a bucket carried by said beam and effective, when charged with water, to depress said beam and effect displacement of fluid from said chamber, a rotary valve concentric with the bottom of said bucket and effective, when rotated to one. position, to dump the bucket contents, a supply line for directing water into said bucket, a pivotal valve for controlling flow from said supply line and having its pivot axis substantially coaxial with the axis of said dump valve, means operatively connecting said valves for conjoint but opposite positioning, and snap-action means for instantaneously shifting said dump valve to open, and said supply valve to closed position, when the beam reaches its lower limit, and instantaneously shifting said dump valve to closed, and said supply valve to open position, when the beam reaches its upper limit of movement, said snapaction means comprising a bell crank lever, one arm of which is operatively connected to said dump and supply valves and the other end of which is connected to said beam through linkage including a tensioned spring element effective to throw said bell crank in one direction when said beam approaches its upper limit and in the opposite direction when said beam approaches its 5 lower limit.

THOMAS W. SMITH. 

